Self-locking milk-can cover



Sept. 4, 1923.

A. TARBET SELF LOCKING MILK CAN COVER Filed Feb. 21 1921 having Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT TARBET, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-LOCKING MILK-CAN COVER.

Application filed February 21, 1921. Serial No. 446,749.

T 0 all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, ALBERT TARBET, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking lVIilk-Can Covers, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for readily locking the cover of a milk can or the like, the invention comprising an extremely simplified structure including a retaining band adapted to be received around the mouth of the milk can and lock the cover plate for the same with relation to the can.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch Figure 1 is a perspective view of a milk can provided with the improved locking means. i

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the retaining band forming the locking means.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the mouth of a milk can provided with the improved locking means.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the closure cap for the can.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same partly broken away.

In the drawings is shown a milk can 1 a mouth 2 of reduced diameter, although it will be apparent that the improvedlocking means may be as readily employed in connection with a can having straight sides, so that the mouth of the same is of the same diameter as the can.

A flange is provided at the upper edge of .mouth 2 and is preferably formed with an outwardly and downwardly inclined upper surface, as shown at 3, and an inwardly and downwardly inclined lower surface, as shown shaped flange. The closure cap forthe can is shown as a disc 5 having the peripheral portion thereof which is received over the flange upon the mouth of the can inclined downwardly as shown at 6 so as to rest flat against the downwardly inclined portion 3 of the flange. A sealing rin 7 of rubber or the like 15 preferably positioned between the flange of the can and the closure cap.

at 4:, so as to form a wedge A retaining band is employed for holding the closure cap in position with relation to the mouth of the can. This band is shown as a strip 8 having a suitable spring lock mechanism at one end thereof adapted to engage a catch 10 projecting beyond the opposite end of the band. The lock is preferably operated by a suitable key so that the band may be readily locked to form a closed annulus or as readily unlocked to permit the ends of the band being swung apart. The band is received around the flange at the mouth of the can and around the edge of the closure cap for the same.

Clips are provided upon the inner surface of the band for engaging the closure cap and the flange. Each of these clips is shown as a substantially U-shaped metallic member 12 riveted. at the base of the U to the inner surface of the band, as shown at 13,

so that the arms of the U will engage the inclined peripheral portion of the closure cap and the downwardly and inwardly inclined surface 4 of the flange respectively. The spring tension of the clips will thus tend to hold the closure cap to the flange whenthe retaining band is locked in position. It will thus-be-seen that an eflicientlock is provided for preventing the removal ofthe closure cap of the can.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as laimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a milk can having' an outwardly projecting flange around its mouth, said ange having an outwardly and downwardly inclined upper face and an inwardly and downwardly inclined lower face and a closure comprising a disc with an outwardly and downwardly inclined rim to fit the flange, of a band, U-shaped resilient members secured tothe band,.the ends of said U-shaped members bein adapted to engage the lower face of the ange and the upper .face of the closure, and lock mechanism for securing the ends of the band together.

2. The combination with a milk can, of

a wedge-shaped flange extending around the mouth of the can, a cover having a rim to fit the upper face of the flange, a band havin U- aped clips extending inwardly to force the cover against the flange, and means for locking the ends of the band together.

'3. In combination, a receptacle having a flanged mouth, a closure for the mouth, a split band encircling the flange, and resilient clips carried by the band and adapted to be held under tension and in gripping relation with respect to the flange and closure when the band -is in circular form about the flange.

4. In combination, a receptacle having a flanged mouth, a closure for the mouth, said mouth and closure being formed with divergent surfaces, spring clipshaving jaws normally converged and adapted to be diverged when engaging said surfaces for constantly urging the closure to closed position upon the mouth, and means for holding the 1,ae7,25a

clips in engaging position with respect to said surfaces.

5. In combination, a receptacle having a flanged mouth, a closure for the mouth, spring clips having jaws normally contracted and adapted to be expanded to grip the flange and closure for constantly urging the latter to closing position upon the mouth, and a common means for retaining all the clips in proper spaced relation and in urging relation with respect to the flange and closure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. v

ALBERT TARBET. 

